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(No Model,)

' 4 SheetsSheet J. E. SOHUMAOHER.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 601,385. Patented Mar. 29,1898.

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llNiTgE STATES FFICEQ JAMES EDWARD SCHUMAOHER, OF YORK, ENGLAND.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 601,385, dated March 29, 1898. Application filed July 7,1897. Serial No. 643,731. (No model.) Patented in England August 5, 1896, F0. 17,286.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES EDWARD-SCHU- MACHER, a subject of the King of Prussia, Emperor of Germany, residing in the city and county of York, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Steam, Hydraulic, and other Engines, (for which an application has been filed in Great Britain, dated the thday of August, 1896, No. 17,280,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam, hydraulic, and other engines-as, for example, such as are described and illustrated in the specification of United States of America Letters Patent No. 571,129, granted to me the th day of November, 1896, in which the supply of steam, water, compressed air, or other liquid or fluid is regulated or controlled by a circular valve having a continuous r0- tary motion imparted to it by suitable gearing-say, for example, from the fly-wheel shaft or other convenient moving part of the engine. a

The objects of the present invention are, first, to adapt an engine controlled by a circular valve having a continuous rotary motion to be worked expansively; second, to arrange the circumferential groovesto be within the exhaust-jacket, whereby a much better flow, say, of steam is obtained, and consequently there is considerably less cylinder condensation; third, to reduce the friction on the face of the circular continuous-rotating. valve, and, fourth, to provide means for reversing the engine.

The herein-described improvements may be applied to either horizontal or vertical engines.

In the drawings hereunto annexed this invention is shown applied to a horizontal enof cut-off plates with the valve removed 5 Fig.

8, a part sectional elevation of cut-off plates on line 10 w, Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a plan of cut-off lever; Fig. 10, an enlarged sectional elevation for pressure-compensating arrangement for reducing the friction on the continuously-rotating circular valve; Fig. 11, an enlarged sectional elevation of the valve-seat, showing the arrangements of valve-ports and circumferential grooves; Fig.12, an enlarged part sectional elevation of the valve-casing with the valve and cut-off plates shown in position; Fig. 13, an enlarged part sectional plan of the valve-casing and a plan of the valve; Fig. 14, a sectional elevation of a valve-seating, cover, cut-off plates, with valve shown in position and adapted to make, say, one rotation to, say, six complete revolutions of the crankshaft; Fig. 15, a plan of valve-seating shown at Fig. 14 withvalve removed; Fig. 16, aplan of under side of valve shown at Fig. 14; Fig. 17, a sectional elevation of a valve-seating, cover, cut-off plates, with a valve shown in position and adapted to make, say, one rotation to, say, three complete revolutions of the crank-shaft; Fig. 18, a plan of valve-seat shown at Fig. 17; Fig. 19, a plan of the under side of the valve shown at Fig. 17; Fig. 20, a sectional elevation showing arrangement of bosses for operating cut-off plates from the center.

Like parts in allthe views are marked with the same letters and figures of reference.

In this invention one or more (preferably two, though not necessarily so) double-acting cylinders A and B are mounted and fixed upon a bed or framework (one or both) at a suitable distance from or opposite to each other.

In the drawings hereunto annexed the cylinders A and B are shown arranged parallel with each other, with the valve-casing (to be hereinafter described) arranged between .them. Each of the cylinders is provided with cylinder B-capable of reciprocating therein by its connection with the fly-wheel shaft J by means of the piston-rods F and G and connecting-rods H and I and cranks K and K, slotted and weighted or otherwise.

The ports A A andB B in each cylinder parts and may be of any suitable length, di-

ameter, and thickness; but in this invention it is preferred to build the seating up in parts and arrange one or more of the said parts to be capable of being turned or rotated within the otherthat is to say, the part of the easing containing the circumferential grooves (marked 1 2 3 4) and valve-ports (marked 5 6 7 8) are arranged so as to be capable of being turned or rotated within the portion of the casing P containing the exhaust jacket or ports, (marked 9.) The said parts are shown retained in position by means of the circum ferential lip q and flange q. (Shown at Fig.

11.) The casing P is provided with a cover or mantle, hereinafter termed covers Q Q, at one-or both ends, preferably at both ends.

In the center of the casing P is a hole R of suitable diameter and which extends the full length thereofsay in a vertical direction. Around this hole is arranged any required numberofcircumferential grooves 1, 2, 3, and

4say, for example, four, as shownthat is, a circumferential groove is provided for each port. When the cylinders are placed directly opposite each other, the circumferential grooves in communication with the cylinders may increase in size as they approach their respective cylinders. Otherwise they are of the same size all around. Each circumferential groove is in communication with a number-say, for example, three, or more or less, if so desired-of, say, vertical holes or passages 5,6, 7, and 8, hereinafter termed valveports, having openings or orifices in or on the seating of the valve. For convenience of reference the odd figures of the cylinder-ports and valve-ports are arranged to be incommunication with each other, and in like manner the even numbers are in communication with each otherthat is to say, circumferential groove 1 and'valve-port 5 are in communication, circumferential groove 2 communicates with valve-port 6, circumferential groove 3 with valve-port 7, and oircumferen tial groove 4 with valve-port'S.

In order that the arrangements of ports, circumferential grooves, and valve-ports may not be misunderstood, I will state again in a concise form the order of communication, namely:

For cylinderA port A passage L, circumferential groove 2, and valve-ports 6 are'in communication with each other. Port A,

passage M, circumferential groove 4:, and

valve-ports 8 communicate with each other.

For cylinder 13 port B, passage N, circum-.-

ferential groove 1, and valve-ports 5 are in communication with each other. Port B passage 0, circumferential groove 3, and valve-ports 7 are all in communication with each other;

Wholly or partially around, say, the valveports is formed the exhaust-jacket 9, whichis employed for conveying away the exhaust through pipe 10, or when steam is employed it may, if so desired, but not necessarily so, be kept hot by live steam. The jacket is provided with an opening to the outer air, which may be the before-mentioned pipe 10.

On, say, the top of the valve-easing P is mounted and fixed the cover Q, having an opening 11, through which steam,'water, or other liquid or fluid is admitted to valve-casing P. Within the said cover is the rotating valve S, which is provided with as many, (or more,) say, vertical openings 3 as there are valve-ports communicating with each circumferential groove. The valve S is mounted on a rod T, one portion of which passes, say, down or through the central hole R, while its upper portion passes through a gland T in the coverQ. The upper end of the valve-rod T is armed, say, with a bevel-wheel T arranged to gear with a pinion J, mounted on the crank-shaft J. By this means'a continuous rotary motion is imparted to the valve S.

On the inner face of the valve S is also pro-' .what I term the balance-cylinder, pro-' vided, say, at the bottom of the casing P is a piston U of rather smaller area than the valve. One portionsay the lower portion of the rod V, upon which piston U is'mounted, passes through a gland or hole in, say, the bed-plate C, while the upperpart of this rod V ,(which does not revolve) may form a step for the pendent portion of the valve-rod T, thatpasses through the central hole R; or the valve and piston maybe connected together by any other convenient and equivalent means. The lower cover Q is connected to the steam, water, compressed air, or other fluid or liquid inlet 10, or to the cover Q by means of a pipe or passage X to enable, say, for example, the live steam to act upon the under sideofthe piston U at or about the same or a slightly-reduced pressure as it acts upon the upper surface of the valve S, therebination with valve and its casing described in the specification of the before-mentioned Letters Patent.

When it is required to provide for a re .Versing action of the pistons D and E in the cylinders A and B, the portion of the'casing P containing the valve-ports may be made to be capable of rotating therein, as shown at Fig. 11, when actuated by ahand or other lever Y or its equivalent, whereby the valveports 5, 6, 7, and S that in one position communicate, say, with the portssay, for example, A or B at the top of the cylinder-.- may be altered to communicate with the bottom ports A or B or vice versa.

When the valve S and its casing Q are employed for compound engines, there will require to be a double circle of valve-ports 5 6 7 8 (see Figs. 14: to 16) provided between the exhaust-jacket 9 and the central hole R and a double set of openings 5 in the valve for communication therewith. This double set of valve-ports is in communication with each other and I arranged to communicate with their respective circumferential grooves, as

before described, so as to be capable for use for exhaust purposes.

By arranging the circumferential grooves to be within the exhaust-jacket a much better flow of steam can be obtained, and consequently a considerably'less loss from cylinder condensation is the result. The valve is also kept at an even temperature by an outer casing or jacket when filled with either live steam from the boiler or by the exhaust-steam. Further, the cylinder condensation will be very little if any greater than in a jacketed cylinder with the ordinary slide-valve. Consequently the superiority of an engine fitted with this valve over an engine of the same size fitted with the ordinary valve is the less frictional resistance in driving the respective valves.

When it is required to work the engine expansively, cut-off plates Z Z are employed and arranged to work one above the other in the cover Qbetween the .face of the valveseat P and face of the valve S, as shown at Fig. 6. Thecut-off plates Z'Z are provided and perforated with a'number of apertures or openings Z corresponding with the numher of valve-ports in the valve-seat P and openings in the exhaust-ring 9. The openings in the lower cut-off plate Z are smaller than those in the upper plate Z owing to the former being provided with projecting lips Z arranged to pass into and work within the openings of the plate Z, as shown at Figs. 7 and 8. Any suitable arrangement of lever device maybe employed for operating the.

part so arranged as to form a cam for operating the plate. The cam-like portions of the two slots 12 and 13 are arranged in opposite directions, so that when pin 15 of the operating-lever 14 is actuating one plate it can travel in the concentric portion of the other slot. The cut-off lever 14 may be mounted upon a shaft 16, working in an axial bearing formed on the cover Q, or it may be attached thereto. When the 'lever is arranged as shown at Fig. 6, the pin 15 is mounted in a second lever 17, fixed to the shaft 16 near its lower end, or a separate lever 14 may be provided for each cut-off plate, as at Figs. 15 and 19. In this arrangement the ends of the lever let are notched to engage with cuneiform projections on the plates or to be worked from the center bosses 19 and 20 long enough to pass through the valve-seat, as shown at Fig. 20, being provided, respectively, on each plate Z Z for this purpose for operating them from the center, as shown at Fig. 20.

The reversing-lever Y and cut-off lever or levers 14 are arranged, preferably,on the same side of the cylinder, so as to be easily within reach of the engine-man.

The action of the engine is as follows: From the drawings hereunto annexed it. will be readily seen that, say, the steam is admitted to the cylinders A and B alternately above and below the pistons D and E, respectively, through the ports A and Atand B and B the steam being conveyed thereto from casing Q through apertures s in the continuously-rotating valve S and the set of valve-ports in connection with the requisite circumferential groove. Thus, for example, say, if steam is admitted to port A of cylinder A the steam enters the cover Q at 11 and passesthrough openings 3, down valve-ports 6 into circumferential groove 2, and along passage L to port A While the above operation is being performed, portA is open and would be used for the exhaust, which is conveyed through passage M to circumferential groove 4:, valveports 8, and to recesses s', by which it is conveyed to the passage 9 and out through pipe or opening 10. g

If the valve is constructed so as to make one rotation to six complete revolutions of the crank-shaft, as shown at Figs. 14 to 16, the inner portion of the valve containing the valve-ports and circumferential grooves will have to be moved, say, twenty degrees in one each other for each end of the cylinder and It will therefore be understood that when steam is admitted by four ports in the seat of the valve the area of the inlet 8 is required to be large enough to supply one end of each cylinder, whereas if there are twelve valve-ports in the seat of the valve the inlets sin the valve are operating at one and the same time. Consequen tly they may be made considerably smaller than the area of the one just described, say about one-third of its area.

The following is an example of the working of the valve shown at Figs. 14 to 16 with the pistons D and E, as shown at Fig. 3.

Steam is admitted at B in all cases (plus the lead) through valve-port 5 and is full on at three-sixteenths of the pistons strokel When the piston E has traveled half of its stroke, steam is then admitted through valveport 6 and port A into cylinder A, the piston D having then completed its outward mences its returnoutward-stroke. The piston D still continues itsinward movement in cylinder A until the inner end of the said cylremains full on up to, say, one-half or onethird of the stroke and is cut off, say, when three-fourths of the stroke has been completed and engine works the remainder of the stroke expansively. When the piston in cylinder A has completed, say, one-half of its stroke and the piston in cylinder B is at its highest or dead point, then steam may be admitted to the cylinder B; but in both cases the admission of steam is plus the lead, which varies according to circumstances.

The exhaust-port is preferably arranged, say, with or about one-eighth (of the stroke) lead and is so arranged that it is closed, say, at or about the point when the piston has accomplished three-fourths or seven-eighths of its stroke. At Fig. 14a double set of ports may be employed, as before described, for exhau'st'purposes to enable the steam to be conveyed away when it is cut off at an early stage of the pistons stroke. The outer set of valve-ports is arranged to be in communication with the inner set, as shown.

Having now described the nature of mysaid invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an engine the combination with a bedplate, cylinders mounted on said bed-plate, a

v valve-casin g arranged adjacent to said cylinders and communicating therewith, a valveseat within the casing built up in parts as described and capable of being partially rotated for reversing purposes, circumferential grooves formed on the valve-seat, each groove communicating with a single port of one cylinder and with one or more openings in the face of the valve-seat, an exhaust-jacket as described. surrounding the circumferential grooves, a hood covering the face of the valveseat, a rotating valve mounted within the hood, perforations within the valve connect ing the hood and circumferential grooves, recesses on the face of the valves connecting the circumferential grooves with the exhaustjacket, cut-off plates perforated as described and interposed between the valve-seat and face of the rotating valve, and the means described for operating them, substantially as set forth.

2. In an engine such as described, the combination of the outer casing perforated as described and arranged to form an exhaustjacket, the valve-seat built up in parts as described fitted within said exhaust-jacket and arranged to be partially rotated for reversing valve-seat on which the valve rotates, a pis ton slightly smaller in area than the rotating valve a short fixed rod mounted in said piston and arranged to form a step for the pendent portion of the rotating valve-spindle, and a pipe forming a communication between the upper and lower hoods of the valve-casing respectively above the rotating valve, and below the said piston, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES EDWARD SCHUMACIIER.

Witnesses:

J onn HOWARD WALTERS, GEORGE WILLIAM CURRY.

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